Thomas Daschle: “I first want to applaud Senators Levin and Wellstone for offering this excellent amendment. It is very similar to the…”

“I first want to applaud Senators Levin and Wellstone for offering this excellent amendment. It is very similar to the provisions in S. 10, the Comprehensive Congressional Reform Act which I introduced yesterday, and which a number of our colleagues have cosponsored. I believe it is essential that the amendment be included in the final legislation. This debate really picks up where we left off last year when Republicans blocked consideration of the legislation which was developed through the tireless efforts of the, at that time, chairman and others. I hope my Republican colleagues will now work with us to enact this amendment. Those of us who want real reform will not stop at congressional coverage. We have to restore public confidence in Government, and our reform efforts must go further. The Levin-Wellstone amendment does just that. Lobby reform is central to true congressional reform. Without it we will never end the undue influences of special interests. But without a ban on special interest gifts to Members of Congress and their staffs, congressional reform is reform in name only.”